Konawaena High School Student Wins UH West Oʻahu Flyer Contest

Grand Prize is an iPod Nano and Published Ad in Sassy/G Magazine

Konawaena High School junior Sarah Smith took home the grand prize in the UH West Oʻahu Flyer Contest. During an award reception held at Honolulu Country Club on May 10th, Smith beamed as she received a shiny, new iPod nano and it was announced that her design would be featured in the May/June issue of Sassy/G Magazine. Smith‘s flyer was chosen from a field of entries by talented fellow high school finalists:

Marc Jason Abundo, Kauaʻi High School

Natalie Esprecion, Aiea High School

Jon Kitagawa, Hilo High School

Stephanie Medrano, Mililani High School

Cody Maemori, McKinley High School

Chelsey Ann Nakama, Kapolei High School

Evan Potter, Radford High School

Jan Takamatsu, Campbell High School

Rayelanie Viernes, Kapolei High School

"It‘s a great surprise because I really didn‘t expect to win," Smith said. "For the flyer, I started designing it roughly in Photoshop, asked friends what they thought to get the teenager‘s point of view, and then tried to make it look like Oʻahu."

More than 200 high school students from around the state of Hawaiʻi entered UH West Oʻahu's Flyer Contest for a chance to win one of 10 iPod nanos and an opportunity to get their work published in Sassy/G Magazine, a local, bi-monthly teen publication. Participants were asked to create a flyer that promotes UH West Oʻahu as a top choice for college-bound students. The general public was invited to vote online for the grand-prize winning design.

"We are pleased to honor the creativity and talents of these outstanding local high school students," said UH West Oʻahu Chancellor Gene I. Awakuni. "As we build our new campus in the City of Kapolei, we look forward to providing students like these with the opportunity to pursue quality higher education that is close to home."

About UH West Oʻahu -

Last fall, UH West Oʻahu became a four-year, comprehensive university when it served its first class of freshmen. The University offers quality education, small classes and personalized attention at convenient locations. A new campus in the City of Kapolei is scheduled to serve students in fall 2010. For more information about UH West Oʻahu, visit uhwo.hawaii.edu or call (808) 454-4700 or toll-free (866) 299-8656.